Ink cartridges

[John Roberts]

I've never tried cheaper inks for my Epson 2100, even though they are about 40% of the price of the genuine Epson ones.

Up till recently I used it for my wedding photography business so I never dared tried anything else after matching the printer to the monitor screen and to the scanner. Is there any visible difference between the manufacturer's and other inks? Any other snags, like jets getting clogged?

I read that Epson and the other big printer manufacturers make their profits from the sales of inks and even make a loss on the initial sale of their printers. Understandably they discourage the use of "other" inks and their use will invalidate the printer's warranty. In my case that's not a problem as mine is about for years old.

Where's the best place to get these inks?

PS: Mods, don't know if this belongs to Computer or Photography section. So I put it here. Feel free.....

PPS What's a cleaning cartridge? Something i need when the printing goes blobby?

 

[alimey4u2]

I have tried several different non Epson cartridges & have found they are more prone to head blocking, thus requiring more head cleaning, negating their cost benefits....

www.7dayshop.com

 

[cookie]

i've had nothing but trouble with non OEM ink cartridges. loads of wasted paper, returns to suppliers and a ****ed up printer.

never again.

 

[John Roberts]

Omygawd. I am glad I asked.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Bugger.

Anywhere that sells Epson cartridges cheaper, then?

 

[alimey4u2]

Omygawd. I am glad I asked.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Bugger.

Anywhere that sells Epson cartridges cheaper, then?

www.7dayshop.com

 

[AndyT]

i've had nothing but trouble with non OEM ink cartridges. loads of wasted paper, returns to suppliers and a ****ed up printer.

never again.

+1

Epson Printer just out of Warranty with completely blocked head after using none OEM ink

Never again

 

[richie]

My epson blocked after one print with dodgy ink cartridges. Luckily it unblocked directly when I put the original ones in again.

Tescos do them quite cheap now.

 

[HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED]

Omygawd. I am glad I asked.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Bugger.

Anywhere that sells Epson cartridges cheaper, then?

I have an Epson printer & never had a problem with OEM's, can't say they last as long as originals but what do you expect for a fraction of the cost, I was advised to use Black Diamond & found them pretty near to the real thing. Now installed a Signal CIS & up to press no issues, must be a tight lucky barstuard I guess.

 

[Zoomboxer]

I have an Epson printer & never had a problem with OEM's, can't say they last as long as originals but what do you expect for a fraction of the cost, I was advised to use Black Diamond & found them pretty near to the real thing. Now installed a Signal CIS & up to press no issues, must be a tight lucky barstuard I guess.

That makes 2 of us

Perhaps it depends on what you expect/do from a printer. I mainly use it for the odd letter and non-special photos and have had no problems using OEMs from flea-bay. But, as the original poster uses his printer for a wedding business I would stick with originals to get the best possible result - the brides's day depends on it so don't penny pinch

 

[cookie]

there seems to be some confusion.

just so we're all talking about the same thing: OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer ie. epson, canon etc.

compatible, or more likely nowadays, re-manufactured cartridges are the non OEM items i referred to earlier

i might also point out that i virtually never print photos or any other demanding tasks on my printers. the trouble i've experienced with cheapo cartridges was mostly just doing everyday printing.
fortunately, i don't do much of that either, so the ludicrous cost of original cartridges is not that onerous. having had an epson (killed by cheap cartridges), an HP (just plain didn't work properly with cheap cartridges), i now have 2 (don't ask ) x canon ip4300 printers. genuine ink for them is relatively cheap, especially compared to the HP, and they don't seemto use much anyway

ps. only just noticed the wedding photo bit. if i was printing pro photos, i think i would be looking at a pretty sophisticated printer with the printer manufacturers own photo paper and most definitely genuine ink cartridges.

or go to boots. i would certainly investigate online printing services. from what i've read they are cheaper than DIY on an inkjet anyway.

 

[HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED]

Liquid Gold

there seems to be some confusion.

just so we're all talking about the same thing: OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer ie. epson, canon etc.

compatible, or more likely nowadays, re-manufactured cartridges are the non OEM items i referred to earlier

i might also point out that i virtually never print photos or any other demanding tasks on my printers. the trouble i've experienced with cheapo cartridges was mostly just doing everyday printing.
fortunately, i don't do much of that either, so the ludicrous cost of original cartridges is not that onerous. having had an epson (killed by cheap cartridges), an HP (just plain didn't work properly with cheap cartridges), i now have 2 (don't ask ) x canon ip4300 printers. genuine ink for them is relatively cheap, especially compared to the HP, and they don't seemto use much anyway

ps. only just noticed the wedding photo bit. if i was printing pro photos, i think i would be looking at a pretty sophisticated printer with the printer manufacturers own photo paper and most definitely genuine ink cartridges.

or go to boots. i would certainly investigate online printing services. from what i've read they are cheaper than DIY on an inkjet anyway.

I stand by my earlier comments Black Diamond non OEM's, I am now on CIS which supplies from a 5 colour remote reservoir sytem via a tape of very fine tubes, dummy cartridges replacing the originals to deliver the ink, easy to fit normal commissioning procedures apply, have run this a couple of months now not a problem from day one, you buy the refills to suit your colour usage, just top up the reservoirs as required. Mostly do printable CD's/DVD's & box covers some photo's, some general printing, suit's me sir.

 

[Aidan1150]

i would certainly investigate online printing services. from what i've read they are cheaper than DIY on an inkjet anyway.

I use Bonusprint for any pictures I wish to have printed. The quality and speed of delivery has always been excellent and the price is good value for money.

 

[Dickieboy]

Been using epson printers for years now, an R830 (5years old) and DX3800 (about 2 years old) aside from the original cartridges that came with them , they have been using non oem cartridges without a problem, get mine from ND ink 2 quid a cartridge,

http://nd-ink.co.uk/

 

[SOAA]

I have an Epson Stylus Photo R200 and I've only ever used genuine epson cartridges in it once; when it was brand new.
Ever since they ran out I've only ever used compatible cartridges (either Inkrite or Jet Tec) and I've never had a problem & believe me; I do a lot of printing

 

[sanqhar]

Quality Non OEM

The problem with non OEM cartridges is that they can often be produced by "back street" outfits.

Check out Jettec

http://www.jettec.com/awards.asp

Waitrose stock them and in general the John Lewis Partnership does not sell rubbish.

I use these cartridges in my Canon S330 and have not had any problems.

tom

 

[John Roberts]

.....but, as the original poster uses his printer for a wedding business I would stick with originals to get the best possible result - the brides's day depends on it so don't penny pinch

Hang on there, I HAVE FINISHED WITH THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS, I would not entertain using non-Epson inks for that purpose.

Thanks for all the replies, guys.